Opened in 1923, the University Branch was originally located in a Northern Italian style building at 3420 S. Hoover Street, near Exposition Park. In 1965, the stylish and ornate building was sold to the University of Southern California for development purposes and the branch collections were moved to a storefront at at 1479 West Adams Boulevard. In 1973 the University Branch was renamed the Exposition Park-Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Regional Branch Library in honor of the great educator and humanitarian. Two years later, the branch left the storefront location and was placed in this building, located at 3665 So. Vermont Avenue. Designed by the City of Los Angeles' Bureau of Public Buildings architectural unit, this facility was built with Capital Improvement Program funds to the cost of $486,400. In 2008, it was sold to University of Southern California and the branch moved yet again into a new building at 3900 South Western Avenue. The most recent branch facility, designed by Tetra Design, Inc., meets the U. S. Green Building Council’s Gold LEED standards for environmentally sustainable design with its low-flow plumbing and irrigation, and high-efficiency mechanical and lighting systems. In addition, approximately 10% of the building is comprised of recycled materials. Exterior view of Exposition Park Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library at 3665 South Vermont Avenue. The building is 9,650 square feet and includes a community room, and parking area designed to accommodate 40 cars. Photograph dated June 20, 1975.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
Los Angeles Public Library.--Exposition Park-Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Regional Branch Streets--California--Los Angeles Building construction--California--Los Angeles Branch libraries--California--Los Angeles Vermont Avenue (Los Angeles, Calif.)
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